Car of the Month

Each month, MotorWeek host John Davis selects a vehicle to highlight that has the potential to be a game-changer, sets a new benchmark in its class, or exemplifies the latest trend in the automotive world.

Ever since Ford’s Raptor burst onto the high performance off-road truck scene, Chevrolet pickup fans have been waiting for a bowtie response. Well, it’s finally here. Although, rather than a beefed-up full-size Silverado, it’s a stocky version of their newer, mid-size Colorado; the 2017 ZR2.
Now, we’ve seen the ZR2 badge before of course; on S-10 pickups and… Read More

Say "Hybrid", and the first name that comes to most minds is Prius. In truth Toyota's original 5-door Prius Hatchback has not had a competitor, likewise built on a chassis built specifically to be a hybrid, until now. That changes with the 2017 Kia Niro.
Niro is a small, dedicated hybrid that also plays to the current popularity of crossover utilities. Indeed,… Read More

For 2017, the Lincoln Motor Company unleashes an all-new, flagship, the Continental sedan. It is clearly an imposing four-door unlike anything from the brand since at least the 1990s. But, you’d have to go back much further to find a Lincoln truly worthy of the Continental name.
There’s a trio of V6 engines to choose from, starting with a 305-horsepower… Read More

When you hear the term “muscle car”, images of Shelby Mustangs, Dodge Hellcats and the like immediately come to mind. Or maybe you’re more into vintage hardware like 60’s-era Pontiac GTOs or most any Chevy Super Sport. Regardless, your mind’s picture is likely of something from a Detroit based automaker. However, American brands hardly have a lock on high… Read More

Buick, like just about every other automotive brand, has seen sedan sales fall of late, while consumer demand for utility vehicles of all varieties soars. So, in the spirit of giving buyers what they want, for 2017 Buick adds a 3rd arrow to their crossover quiver, the Envision.
The Envision is a two-row crossover that takes aim at the likes of Acura RDX and… Read More

2016 marked the 25th anniversary for the Ford Explorer. While it was far from the first four-door SUV, it was clearly one of the first that made a case for being a family vehicle and more than just a rutted-roads runabout.
As the 2017 model year dawns, the current Explorer bears little resemblance to that truck-based original, now riding on a three row… Read More

While it has only been a year since Fiat-Chrysler showed the U.S.-spec Alfa Romeo Giulia sport sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show, there have been rumors of its imminent arrival here for quite some time. Well, that wait is finally over. The 505-horsepower Quadrifoglio is the initial model, followed by more sedate and insurable versions in early 2017. But, to us… Read More

The Ford Fusion has gone through a significant fine-tuning for 2017. While the upgrades are many, none will affect buyers more than on the interior, where a new rotary shifter has been added. This one change frees up lots of space and convenience in the center console.
Fusion also gains a new top level Platinum trim, boasting more standard luxury touches… Read More

Given the fast rising tide of demand for utility vehicles of all stripes, it was perhaps inevitable that Jaguar would take the plunge. However, in their case, it’s clearly more of a leap as the resulting F-PACE midsize crossover is one of the most captivating Jaguar’s in the seventy-one year history of the brand.
A Jaguar utility vehicle, as implausible as it may… Read More

Fiat made its automotive return to the U.S. in 2011 with the small but spirited 500 subcompact lineup. But, for those of us that have been around for more than a few decades, it was likely the 1960s era 124 Coupe and Spider sports cars that initially drew our attention to the Italian brand. Now, after more than thirty years, the two-seat 124 Spider is also… Read More